Why you should choose a career in Health & Safety

Industry NewsBy Andy Taylor

Many people start a path to professional qualification by obtaining a NEBOSH General Certificate in health and safety. Though this is not seen as a professional qualification in itself it serves as a good basis for someone getting involved in health and safety for the first time. It is quite usual for many that obtain the General Certificate to progress on to the NEBOSH Diploma. For those in the construction industry a variant of the NEBOSH General Certificate, the Certificate in Construction is available.

They make good students for this Diploma course as it builds on topics covered by the NEBOSH National General Certificate and National Construction Certificate. For those who work for organisations in all industry sectors and who are seeking to managing health and safety risk in the UK or overseas will find the qualification particularly useful.

Health and safety practitioners work in a diverse and challenging global workplace. To be the best, they need the best qualifications. The NEBOSH Diploma is ideal for people who are seeking a successful long-term career and who wish to be recognised as a professional in their field.

The NEBOSH National Diploma is a prestigious qualification and is designed to provide students with the expertise required to undertake a career as a health and safety practitioner and provides a sound basis for progression to postgraduate study. Holders of the award may use the designatory letters “DipNEBOSH” after their name and are invited to the annual NEBOSH Graduation and Awards Ceremony.

Holders of the NEBOSH Diploma can also apply for graduate membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Grad IOSH). It is also accepted by the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management as meeting the academic requirements for full membership (MIIRSM).

Thousands of health and safety professionals throughout the world have worked to achieve NEBOSH’s Diploma. They are an asset to their organisations and by employing NEBOSH-qualified staff demonstrates a strong commitment to health and safety, as well as professional-level competence.

No matter what industry or environment you work in, unfortunately, accidents do happen. A health and safety professional’s job is to prevent accidents and injury, making people’s time at work as safe and happy as possible.

A career in health and safety can be hugely rewarding and even has the potential to save lives. In the HSE’s (Health and Safety Executive’s) annual statistics for 2017/18, it was reported that 144 people were killed at work in the United Kingdom and there were 555,000 injuries.

With this many accidents and organisations having increasing legal responsibility for their workers’ safety, it’s unlikely that someone with health and safety qualifications will never not be in high demand. NEBOSH Diplomates assist employers in protecting against injury and loss of life, helping to maintain a healthy workforce, avoid prosecution, litigation, absence costs and loss of reputation.

NEBOSH courses are available in a number of forms including evening college options, block taught courses through private providers, open/distance learning courses in book or on-line e-learning format. Students today are often under a lot of pressure to limit their time away from work, even when conducting studies for something as important as a NEBOSH qualification. This is reflected in the way courses are run today in that many emphasise the modular nature of learning and utilise gains made in Information Technology (IT).

With ACT you can study the NEBOSH Diploma by attending a classroom course, involving face-to-face teaching in one of our excellent venues in the UK. Classroom courses provide an opportunity to discuss the topics with other students and the tutor and would suit those that enjoy interaction in a classroom environment. In particular, it has a number of features that may be helpful to those students who have not done formal study and examinations for some time. Alternatively we can also provide similar courses at your premises through our in-house services covering the UK and international locations. You can also study with one of our e-learning or blended learning programmes. We have a method of study that suits your preferred study style, availability and commitments.

As the first NEBOSH approved e-learning package of its kind, ACT’s NEBOSH General Certificate made a great impact in this field, providing quality learning on a flexible basis. Building on the success of the General Certificate and Construction Certificate e-learning options then a NEBOSH Diploma e-learning package was developed making this important professional qualification available to a wider number of students.

Students will also need good study books whatever their route to professional qualifications, ACT has developed a range of essential study guides for NEBOSH qualifications, including the National General Certificate, International Certificate, Construction Certificate and National and International Diplomas. The Study Books follow each of the syllabuses and include text directed to exam needs, excellent supporting pictures, exam style questions and answers, photographs of workplace hazards and controls.

Contact the ACT Enquiry Team on 01384 447915, for further information.